The Catholic Herald stiller dette spørsmålet tre år etter at dokumentet ble offentliggjort – les det her. De skriver innledningsvis at det er gått tre år, og bare i begrenset grad blir det nå feiret flere tradisjonelle latinske messer enn før – mens noen i 2007 hadde regnet med en rask og ktaftig økning. Kanskje må vi rett og slett være tålmodige, sier de til slutt, før de spør leserne om deres mening. Og mange lesere svarer, bl.l. slik:
Three years in not a very long time–especially not in terms of the Church–and I would argue that there has been a sea-change (in the United Kingdom at least) since His Holiness published the Motu Proprio: Summorum Pontificum. Even if the Faithful are still not able to attend an EF Mass on a Sunday at a normal time, or the numbers haven’t turned up as expected, or the Bishops are still reluctant in some places, the fact that the Mass is available and slowly becoming part of the norm, is pretty tremendous. I also believe–and the evidence is unfortunately only anectdotal–that Summorum Pontificum has vastly improved the Novus Ordo. …
I would say that SP has been a success. It trumped the reluctance of Bishops to allow the usus antiquior and has encouraged many priests to learn how to say it. I have met dozens of priests who have only begun to say the old Mass since SP and I am sure that there are many more in the pipeline. In terms of negotiations with the SSPX, it has removed an important stumbling block.
I agree too that it has helped priests to say the new Mass more reverently and to understand some elements of that form of the Mass better, with more awareness of our liturgical tradition. For the people of God, it has brought a much needed sense of the sacred, and an opportunity to participate at Mass with greater freedom of choice in the manner of participation. In terms of the spiritual life of the Church, it has been a much needed element of Pope Benedict’s reforms.
… The more I read about Pope Benedict the more I am convinced that he is not seeking to make an instant, revolutionary impact on the Church, but to lay foundations that will be built on by his successors for generations to come. Like Rome itself, he thinks in centuries. That’s the best way to understand Summorum Pontificum. Three years on the Motu Proprio has not revolutionised worship around the world. But Benedict XVI never suggested it would. But in a century’s time worship around the world will be deeply marked by his reforms.